Joseph Emerson Brown, war governor of Georgia, was born in Pickens district, South Carolina, April 15, 1821. His father fought under Gen. Andrew Jackson, and his grandfather in the Revolutionary war. During his boyhood the family removed to Georgia, where he obtained an education and studied law amid great privations and self-sacrifice. He was graduated at Yale college in 1846, practiced law at Canton, Ga.; was elected State senator in 1849; presidential elector in 1852; and judge of the superior courts of the Blue ridge district in 1855. He was first elected governor in 1857, and was re-elected in 1859, 1861 and 1863. Governor Brown was prompt and decisive in his movements at the approach of the war. He ordered the seizure of Forts Pulaski and Jackson in January, 1861, put two regiments in the field before the Confederacy was organized, and personally seized the government arsenal at Augusta. On the down fall of the Confederacy he was imprisoned a few days at Washington. During reconstruction times he strongly urged the wisdom of accepting the situation, and complying with the terms prescribed. He was appointed chief justice of the Supreme court of Georgia, but resigned in 1870 to become president of the company in charge of the Western and Atlantic railroad. In 1880 he was elected United States senator to succeed General Gordon, and was re-elected in 1884. His death occurred in 1895.
George W. Johnson, first provisional governor of Kentucky, was born near Georgetown, in that State, May 27, 1811. He was the grandson of Col. Robert Johnson, a hero of the Revolutionary period. After graduation at Transylvania university, he studied law, and practiced that profession some time, but finally devoted himself to extensive agricultural interests in Kentucky and Arkansas. He represented Scott county in the Kentucky legislature three years, 1838-40, and was a candidate for presidential elector in 1852 and 1860. In 1861 he labored
